Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope exchange letters ahead of Vatican visit

The Archbishop of Canterbury has responded to a letter from the Pope, thanking him for his words of encouragement after he said he prayed Dame Sarah Mullally might “be guided by the Holy Spirit” as she was enthroned.

Pope Leo wrote to Dame Sarah as she was officially installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury – and first female to hold the high office in its 1,400-year history.

It comes as Lambeth Palace announced that the archbishop will visit Rome from April 25 to 28, during which time she will meet the Pope at the Vatican.

In his letter, the pontiff said he prayed the archbishop would “draw inspiration from the example of Mary, the Mother of God.”

In response, Dame Sarah thanked the Pope for his prayers, writing: “I am deeply grateful for your gracious letter, and for the assurance of your prayers at the time of my installation as Archbishop of Canterbury.

“Your words of encouragement and your invocation of the Holy Spirit’s guidance are received with profound appreciation.”

Lambeth Palace said the two faith leaders have expressed their commitment to Christian unity and Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue.

At the Vatican in 2024, Pope Francis told senior archbishops that “it would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfil our common vocation to make Christ known.”

Referring to those words in his letter, Pope Leo added: “Dear sister, I willingly make these words my own, for it is through the witness of a reconciled, fraternal and united Christian community that the proclamation of the Gospel will resound most clearly.”

The Pope’s message was delivered and read to Dame Sarah on Thursday morning by Cardinal Kurt Koch, who attended Dame Sarah’s enthronement on behalf of the pontiff.

The archbishop sent a letter in reply later the same day, in which she added: “I very much look forward to meeting Your Holiness in the near future and to continuing to strengthen the bonds of friendship and our shared commitment.”